The Dickinson press., 1887-07-23


done quickly. Haley was torn by conflicting
emotions. The Blackfeet had killed many
of his friends and he hated them. But lie
depended on their trade for the support of his
trading post. He was tired of hearing them
boast, weary of seeing them swagser around
his fort. He wanted them to be killed But
every Blackfoot represented q certain number
OF buffalo robes annually He could not
afford to have them killed. His commercial
instincts triumphed. He entered one Of
the bastlons which lowered above
the main fort, clambcred to its sub
NIT, and there crouched. Then, after
waving white cloth for an instant, he stood
erect and began to talk to the Pend Oreillcs
Haley SLOUGH hated. flannel shirted, rifle in
hand, on bastion addressing a war party of
victorious Indians who We're preparing to as
Sault his fort, was an impressive spectacle.
Hewas greeted with derisive yels. He stood
calmly and waited until the woods became
Silent. Then he talked to the Pend Oreiiles of
the beauties of peace, of the benefits the Ind
ians derived from commerce. He dwclt
briefly on the causes of the hereditary war
that ragged between the Backfeet and the
Pend orcilles, and graphically set forth the
advantages the latter would reap if they
abandoned the warpath. He said that he
was the friend of all Indians. and that it
made him sal to see them kill one another
Finally, and 10y this time the Pend Oreilles
We're listening attcntivcly to him, he said;
"lheSe Barktcct braves whom YOU have
driven INTO my corral are my friends
have fifteen white men in this fort. They
have strong hearts. If you attempt to as
Sault the corral my white men will kill you
You had better stop fighting and send your
Chief men into the fort to talk to the Black
feet chiefs and make peace" Then he spoke
briefly TO the rorralNl Blackfcct, and they
eagerly promised not to fire on the Pend
Orei:le envoyS
Presently thrr" Young Indians, clad in
breechrl"utS, with their bows in their hands.
came out from behind widely separated trees
AMI Walk"! ON conversing trails to the door
OF the fort. They We're admitted and stood
side by side, with their bows and fitted ar-
rows III their hands, and gazcd into the dark
ness through blazing eyes. Another door
which opened into the corral was cautiously
opened and five Blnckfcct chiefs entered.
They were wrapped in blankets, and carried
their rifles openly ilfthslr hands They wcrc
gigantic men and handsome They looked
curiou>ly at the Slight, alert Pend Orci!lrs
and the latter faced them in the gloom as
though about to spring ON them. | expected
tosee blood flow every instant. Silently the
hostile ENJOYS faced one another Presently
the eyes of the Blackfr"t wavcrch, trcmhIel
;ini sought to rest ON the more friendly eyes
of tn" whites. Haley interpreted for the
Pend Oicile>, who voiced their ,letrrmina-
ton through a Young chief. He rrco,mteG
the grievances of his people. He reproarlcd
he invoked, he denounced, and his eyes ever
hlazcd and his fingers toycd with his how
string. His speech was listened to attcm,ivrlv
by the Blarktrct. When he had finished
talking he drew himself up proudly
aud ga@cd frarlrs,ly and iicrcely ut
his enemies. Haley turned to me and said
'il" has been laying down the law to these
thieves and towards. He has been abusing
their trl'c, ;nd hr has consentel to make
peace and to let them out of the hole lie has
them i'll on his own terms, which are hard
and degrading.
y Hlarifoot chief dropped his blanket from
his shoulders. I'm the dim light ho looked
lik" a bronze statue II" stepped forward n
yard aud bc.an otall; slowly and with many
gestures. Again Haley interpreted. At
t'ntively the Pend Orcilles listened Now
their mol,il" faces lighted with amusement.
then larkcnel with scorn and contcmpt.
Tie Blacktoots speech finished, it was scof-
fu9ly waved into Il dark corner by the grace
ful hands of the Pend Orcilles Then the
l";,ler turned to Haley, and III fcw words
dispensed with his services as Interpreter.
He strobe close to the Blackfcct chiefs, who
fairly covered before him He cast his bow
aud arrow on the ground, and began to talk
in the sign language. His arms and hands
moved inrcss;,nfiy. He rode horseback, he
Killed buffalo, lir iishcl, he slept, lie fought
and srnlped his foes, he cut lodge poles and
built lis lodge, and whatever he did did
gracefully and we'll While lie was talking
i'll signs the eyes of both whites and Indians
were set on him. heard murinl,rs of appro-
val from the rough, half civilized traders,
such rs "Give it to the bcggars," Clean them
out, That is just" That is true To me
the conversation was somewhat incomprcben-
sble, but gathered from the remarks of tho
white men and such of the signs as under
stood that he was savayely scathing the
Blac!;fcet and alrogan!ly debating his terms
of peace Through with talking, he picked
up his bow and arrow, shook hands with sew
c,al of the white men, and walked out of the
fort followed by his comrades. They sep
nratrd and disappeared into the woods where
Their soldiers lurkcH.
He lett the Elackfcct amazed at the an
dacity If his demands. He claimed every
horse they had in tile corral as prizes of war.
He insisted that in the future the Columbia
river Indians should be free to hunt and
fish and camp in the land of the Blackfeet
without molestation. All disputes about
stolen horses Were to be settled once for all
by letting hygones be bygones, whoever then
hold tine horses should keep them; but that
! I
and to hasten the making of the treaty, he
said that he had sent runners to the main
Pend Orcle tribe, i'll campon the Milk river,
To tell the warriors to hurry to the battle
field, aud that lie intended 10 have the horses
that were in the corral and to scalp every
Blackfoot in the party if his terms were not
agreed to. And, he added, that he and his
people had crossed the mountains expressly to
flint the Blackfeet, and they intended to OK
them, man, woman and child. and
use their country for q game preserve.
The Biackfeet chiefs were turned into the
corral first having been strongly advised by
Haley to accept the terms offered. They
talked for few minutes with their men, and
the terms were accepted. The horses were
,ielivercd The Pend Orcilles withdrew from
the river banks and adjacent woods. The
ff)Nttl lbIafhlett ulcu ouJ Oh INC SuFkatis anu
disappeared down the valley, first having
made arrangements to have their people come
to the fort to solemniy ratify the treaty. The
Pend Oreilles agreed to meet them at the cx-
piration Of two days OH the tongue of land
lying l,etwcen the Belly and st. Mary rivers.
was homeward bound, but Haley told me
that the ceremonies connected with the ratif-
cation of this treaty would probably be the
last great Indian pageant to be witnessed on
the continent, and that it would he well
worth seeing. He urged ME to remain to sec
the treaty made and to see the summer trade
lie would afterward make with the Black
feet.
On the afternoon of the second day about
l5o Pend Oreiile braves, we'll mounted and
armed with rifles and bows and arrows.
dashed into the valley at a galop. They
entered the river. and. shouting ard laugh
ing. fortlcd it and camped on the tongue
of land. Quickly they posted sentinels on
the summit of the bluff to watch for the
Backfeet. Presently some Of the Pend
Oreillc braves fortled the river and came to
~ fort Thav 1.ar. admitted Thcy vHerf,